Don't Look Directly At It? Yeah Right!

Trip Smith | Jul 21, 2009 12:00 pm | 12 comments | 1910 reads

This week, stargazers from around the globe will flock to Haiyan County in Zhejiang Province to witness a once-in-a-lifetime event of cosmic proportions. On Wednesday, Haiyan is expected to be the best place on the planet to view a total solar eclipse that will begin between 9 and 9.30am and is expected to last more than six minutes.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between Earth and the sun, temporarily blocking out a portion of the sun’s light. Wednesday’s event is significant because an eclipse of comparable intensity and longevity has not occurred in nearly 1,000 years, and will not happen again anywhere on Earth until 2132. In other words, no one living now has seen such an impressive astronomical rarity, and nobody will see one again for a number of generations.

Fittingly, this solar eclipse coincides with the UN-declared International Year of Astronomy, celebrating 400 years since Galileo first aimed a telescope heavenward. If he could see the masses of people that will be following in his footsteps on Wednesday, we’re sure he would be proud.

Haiyan County is the best place to see the eclipse because it is the location most directly in line with the sun and the moon, making for the longest and most drastic viewing anywhere besides the Pacific Ocean. However, other areas, including Beijing, are in for a spectacle as well. The path of the moon’s shadow will begin in India and move all the way across China, passing just south of Shanghai, before heading off over the Pacific. Viewers in Beijing should be able to see a fairly dramatic partial eclipse, or at least a polution-blurred impression of the sun dimming slightly.

If you want to travel to Haiyan to witness this historical occurrence, be advised that China has issued a travel alert in anticipation of high numbers of people who have the same ambition. If you do decide to brave the starstruck crowds, be sure to wear proper eye protection.

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tripsmithsnumber1fan's picture tripsmithsnumber1fan Submitted by Guest on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 11:03

It really is a shame that self-centered individuals like aspicernumber1fan have to spend their time trying to bring down the merits of excellent journalists such as the esteemed trip smith. I have yet to find a blogger for the Beijinger who demonstrates as much flare and tact in the writing of his blog posts. If only aspicernumber1fan had an appreciation for raw, unfiltered talent such as that shown by trip smith, the world would be a better place.

Can't wait for the next trip smith post,
tripsmithsnumber1fan

I-love-china's picture I-love-china Submitted by Guest on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 07:45

Hi! I also saw the Total Solar Eclipse today. It was really cool. I meet a man online from China he was really cool so i posted it on my blogg today.

This blogg forum is very intersting.
I will read here often.

Here is my China-video blogg in Sweden.
http://i-love-china.bloggagratis.se

Oskar
Sweden

aspicersnumber1fan's picture aspicersnumber1fan Submitted by Guest on Wed, 07/22/2009 - 14:45

I only saw the eclipse for 2 seconds today...and I was lucky to have seen it for that long bc the pollution was so bad.

Don't think the "proper eye protection" was such a big deal after all!

Wore my PJs and drank 8 sangrias before 9:00am for nothing...

Love,

aspicersnumber1fan

Erb's picture Erb Submitted by Guest on Tue, 07/21/2009 - 17:29

Thank God Kurov is on our side.

I would have totally stared into the eclipse because, like Kurov, I too have no sense of when someone is kidding.

The mayfly lives only one day. And sometimes it rains.
George Carlin

tsmith24's picture tsmith24 Submitted by Guest on Tue, 07/21/2009 - 15:26

Thanks to kurov for pointing out the error in this post. The blog has been corrected to indicate that an eclipse of comparable length will not occur until 2132.

Also, please note that the title of this post is intended to be humorous. It is never a good idea to look directly at the sun, and anyone viewing the eclipse should use proper eye protection or an indirect viewing method to do so. A link to a site with information specifically regarding protected viewing has been added for those who wish to learn more. Thanks again to kurov for taking time to bringing this issue to light.

Kurov's picture Kurov Submitted by Guest on Tue, 07/21/2009 - 14:26

So the "yeah right!" in the headline means what exactly? That this event is so ... DRASTIC, to use the writer's shaky vocab choice, that only a pussy would worry about the permanent retinal burns and blindness that you risk in looking at an eclipse? I guess that attitude explains the complete lack of useful information in the post, which includes the statement that "another total solar eclipse will not happen again anywhere of (sic) Earth until 2132". Actually, between tomorrow and 2100, there will be another SIXTY total eclipses, and the next one in China will be in 2034. If you're going to finish off with advice about wearing "proper eye protection", don't toss it off as if you were reminding someone to take an umbrella in case it rains. This is serious stuff: what kind of eye protection? Where can you get it? Of course publishing the answer might take some research. Ever heard of it?

aspicersnumber1fan's picture aspicersnumber1fan Submitted by Guest on Tue, 07/21/2009 - 13:06

Another well written article by Mr. Smith. However I cannot help but think about a few things when reading it:

1) How awesome would it have been if aspicer wrote this?

2) It would be worth traveling to Shanghai for the 7 minutes of bliss, but I don't think aspicer is going, so go ahead and count me out.

3) I think aspicer would have titled this posting, "My Second Solar Eclipse" or "7 Minute Make-Out Session in Haiyan: This Wednesday -- Be There"

Needless to say, I will wake up to catch it in Beijing around 8:32am tomorrow morning. I'll be in my PJs, sipping a sangria, just waiting for the eclipse and aspicer's next blog post.

Love,

aspicersnumber1fan

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